Racket dampener swing sensor apparatus

Abstract

A racket dampener swing sensor apparatus to obtain measurements of parameters relative to the player's performance while reducing vibration includes a dampener body having a body front side, a body back side, and a body perimeter. The body perimeter has a string channel to selectively engage a plurality of strings of a tennis racket. The dampener body absorbs vibration from the plurality of strings. An accelerometer and a microcontroller with memory are coupled within the dampener body to measure hit velocity for each shot type (forehand, backhand, serve, topspin, slice, or flat). A vibration sensor is provided to detect when a ball is struck. A transceiver is coupled within the dampener body to wirelessly communicate with an app on a smartphone or computer. A battery is coupled within the dampener body and a charge port is in operational communication with the battery.

I claim: 
     
       1. A racket dampener swing sensor apparatus comprising:
 a dampener body having a body front side, a body back side, and a body perimeter, the body perimeter having a string channel configured to selectively engage a plurality of strings of a tennis racket, the dampener body absorbing vibration from the plurality of strings, the string channel extending at least 180° around the body perimeter and less than 360° around the body perimeter, a front perimeter and a back perimeter of the body front side and the body back side, respectively, being chamfered; 
 an accelerometer coupled within the dampener body; 
 a vibration sensor coupled within the dampener body; 
 a microcontroller coupled within the dampener body, the microcontroller being in operational communication with the accelerometer and the vibration sensor; 
 a memory chip coupled within the dampener body, the memory chip being in operational communication with the microcontroller; 
 a transceiver coupled within the dampener body, the transceiver being in operational communication with the accelerometer and the microcontroller and configured to wirelessly communicate with an app on an extrinsic device; 
 a battery coupled within the dampener body, the battery being in operational communication with the accelerometer, the microcontroller and the transceiver; and 
 a charge port coupled to the dampener body, the charge port being in operational communication with the battery. 
 
     
     
       2. The racket dampener swing sensor apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising the accelerometer being a three axis accelerometer. 
     
     
       3. The racket dampener swing sensor apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a micro electrical mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope coupled within the dampener body, the microcontroller and the battery being in operational communication with the MEMS gyroscope. 
     
     
       4. The racket dampener swing sensor apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising the body front side and the body back side being circular. 
     
     
       5. The racket dampener swing sensor apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising the vibration sensor being a piezoelectric sensor. 
     
     
       6. A racket dampener swing sensor apparatus comprising:
 a dampener body having a body front side, a body back side, and a body perimeter, the body perimeter having a string channel configured to selectively engage a plurality of strings of a tennis racket, the string channel extending between 180° and 360° around the body perimeter, a front perimeter and a back perimeter of the body front side and the body back side, respectively, being chamfered, the body front side and the body back side being circular, the dampener body absorbing vibration from the plurality of strings; 
 an accelerometer coupled within the dampener body, the accelerometer being a three axis accelerometer; 
 a vibration sensor coupled within the dampener body, the vibration sensor being a piezoelectric sensor; 
 a microcontroller coupled within the dampener body, the microcontroller being in operational communication with the accelerometer; 
 a memory chip coupled within the dampener body, the memory chip being in operational communication with the microcontroller; 
 a transceiver coupled within the dampener body, the transceiver being in operational communication with the microcontroller and configured to wirelessly communicate with an app on an extrinsic device; 
 a battery coupled within the dampener body, the battery being in operational communication with the accelerometer, the microcontroller, and the transceiver; 
 a micro electrical mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope coupled within the dampener body, the microcontroller and the battery being in operational communication with the MEMS gyroscope; and 
 a charge port coupled to the dampener body, the charge port being in operational communication with the battery. 
 
     
     
       7. A method of dampening tennis racket strings and choosing a tennis racket comprising:
 having a racket dampener swing sensor apparatus comprising:
 a dampener body having a body front side, a body back side, and a body perimeter, the body perimeter having a string channel configured to selectively engage a plurality of strings of a tennis racket, the string channel extending between 180° and 360° around the body perimeter, a front perimeter and a back perimeter of the body front side and the body back side, respectively, being chamfered, the body front side and the body back side being circular, the dampener body absorbing vibration from the plurality of strings; 
 an accelerometer coupled within the dampener body, the accelerometer being a three axis accelerometer; 
 a vibration sensor coupled within the dampener body, the vibration sensor being a piezoelectric sensor; 
 a microcontroller coupled within the dampener body, the microcontroller being in operational communication with the accelerometer; 
 a memory chip coupled within the dampener body, the memory chip being in operational communication with the microcontroller; 
 a transceiver coupled within the dampener body, the transceiver being in operational communication with the microcontroller and configured to wirelessly communicate with an app on an extrinsic device; 
 a battery coupled within the dampener body, the battery being in operational communication with the accelerometer, the microcontroller, and the transceiver; 
 a micro electrical mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope coupled within the dampener body, the microcontroller, and the battery being in operational communication with the MEMS gyroscope; and 
 a charge port coupled to the dampener body, the charge port being in operational communication with the battery; 
 
 having a tennis racket, the tennis racket having a plurality of strings; 
 positioning the dampener body on the tennis racket with the string channel receiving the plurality of strings; 
 playing tennis with the tennis racket while the transceiver communicates with the extrinsic device; and 
 analyzing the data generated from the app on a smartphone or computer to compare hit velocity for each shot type.